Rail-joint.



No. 649,975. Patented May 22, I900.

' G. H. WILLIAMS.

R A l L J 0 l N T.

(Application filed Dec. 15, 1898.)

( No Model.)

; A TTORNEKX m5 uonms FEYERS cu. Pnoruuma, WASHINGTON, u. c.

; 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. WILLIAMS, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

RAIL-JOINT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 649,975, dated May 22, 1900.

A lic ti n filed December 16,1898. Serial No. 6991 108- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be'it known that I, GEORGE H. WILLIAMS,

' a citizen of the United States,residing at St.

Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and usefullmprovementsin Rail- Joints, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to improvements in rail-joints; and it consists in the novel combination apd arrangements of parts hereinafter more particularly described and claimed.

The drawing is a vertical cross-section of a rail-joint constructed according to my invention, taken through that portion of the several parts adjacent to one of the securingbolts.

'The object of my invention is to construct a simple, practical, and perfect rail-jointthat is, one that will not only stand the rough usage to which the same is necessarily subjected, but at the same time form a practical nut-lock for holding the several parts in a rigid and compact position.

Briefly stated, the invention consists of the employment of the ordinary rails without alteration of any character, vertical spring-arch angle-bars located on either side of the meeting ends of the rails, each of which is pro-- vided with a lower flanged portion covering the base portion of said rails, one of said angle-bars having smooth openings for the free passage of the bolts, the other provided with screw-threaded openings, the dimensions of which are smaller than the first-named open in gs for receiving the screw-threaded ends of the bolts, the said bolts being of sufficient length to extend a suitable distance beyond the said last-named angle-bar when the parts are in a compact position and having polygo nal-shaped heads to which a nut-wrench or other tool is applied for drawing the several parts together and a nut screwed on the pro jecting ends of each of the bolts and against the adjacent angle-bars, thereby forming a perfect nut-lock for further holding the parts in their compact position.

Referring to the drawing, 1 represents a rail of ordinary construction and composed of a ball or tread portion 2, base 3, web 4, connecting the tread portion with the base, and

openings 5, formed in said web for the free passage of the bolt 6. The vertical springarch angle-bar 7, which is located on one side of the meeting ends of the rails, is provided with circular openings 8 of smooth bore about its medial yielding portion, through which the bolts 6 are freely passed, the inner surfaces of the polygonal heads 9 of which are normally in contact with the outer vertical surface of said an gle-bar after said bolts have been turned in the proper direction to bring the several parts compactly together. The opposite angle-bar 10 is provided with screwthreaded openings 11 about its medial yielding portion which are smaller than the openings 8, formed in the opposite angle-bar, all of said openings, however, being on a line with one another for receivip g the bolts 6, the said screw-threaded openings 11 receiving the screw-threaded ends 12 of the bolts. After the bolts 6 are screwed home by turning the same by the heads 9 the parts will be thor-' oughly drawn together, a wrench or other tool being applied to the heads 9 in the usual manner. The bolts are of sufficient length to proj ect a suitable distance beyond the outer vertical surface 13 of the angle-bar 10 when the parts are properly assembled, and upon their projecting ends are screwed nuts 14, the latter being tightly turned against the said vertical outer surface 13 of the an gle-bar, thereby forming a practical nut-lock. By this means it is impossible for the parts to become loosened, and, further, a very rigid joint is provided for the rail.

As clearly shown in the drawing, the vertical spring-arch angle-bars 7 and 10 are each provided with tapering lower flanged portions, the lower inclined surfaces of which are in binding contact and entirely cover the upper surface of the base 3 of the rails on either side thereof, the lower horizontal bearingsurfaces of each of said angle-bars being adapted to bear upon the ordinary ties, together with the lower bearing-surfaces of the base of the rails, whereby when the said angle-bars are spiked into position on the ties, together with the rails, vibration of the latter is prevented, and, further, the angle-bars are rigidly held into position to render them sufficiently yielding about the locking device of the same.

By the employment; and construction ofthe ve tiea p h' -a e ng e-h s o ated on either sidefof the'rail and their cooperation with the base of the latter, in combination with the specific construction of'bolt-or fastening device herein shown and described, the parts are yieldingly held together, and, further, when the parts become worn and settle by constant traffic over the rail, the elas: ticity of the angle-bars will automatically take up all wear, which is absolutely neces-m Salty term h aeti a1hu Qe f is a acter, it beingobserved that whenthe parts are first fastened together the saidanglebals are in binding contact and entirely cover the l ner h fae 'b h ase at the i o e e side thereof, one 'of said angle-bars having openings formedtherein about its medial yielding portion, the other having screwthreaded openings about its medial yielding portion,"s'crew -Ythr1eaded bolts adapted to loosely pass through the openings in one of the, angle-bars and. the web portion of the rail, and screwed into the screw-threaded openings in the other angle-bar, and projectin g a suitable distance beyond said last-named angle-bar, nuts screwed on the projecting ends of the bolts-and normally in direct conwlll slightly yield suthciently to take up the necessary wear thatmay occur in the future;

eth rwise the nut d b l would be omelees a! they do under t na y con u h h-1! Emmi he eens ue ien of the device n the description of its operation, as before described, it'will be seen that thclower flat in- -el d Shh ees ef h g a s, as wel a the, que r hel n s aees f the m a e hrcug a rd hell ef the ail r p e y y th lts, reby the parts are'held in a clamped po,-.

S it iQIi before the nuts are screwedvon the h'ehi m re h e 4 Having fully described my invention, what I laim In combination with an ordinary rail havingsuitable openings formed in the web portiehe her ef Qf e al p ingr ng bars located on both sides of said rail, each ofwhich is provided with lower flanged portions, the lower flatinclined surfaces of which 1; into. a binding position with the base tact with the yielding portion ofthe adjacent angle-bar, d heads f med on the opposite ends of said bolts, and normally in contact with h yie pere ef'the. idjeeeht a11- har e sai 'e f 'er flang d nerti ns of sa dhg e-hars ad pted t9 he Shikd pen the Q hh y' ti s e her with the. rail, where y hentheiahg ear ar p ace in. p oper posi i i r p '0 h and the, Wilts i171- 

